Chapter 37: Eirin

Kaijou has made it into the quarter-finals of the Winter Cup. Their game, against Fukuda Sougou, is tonight. If they make it, they'll get to advance to semi-finals and play Seirin, a team that Kise's always raved about.

A few weeks ago, I might've been texting Kise good luck, maybe I even would've taken him out for a meal the night before to boost his spirits.

But as it is, we're still not talking. I'd condemned myself to traveling to the game alone, but last minute, Susumu invited me to go with her. I readily accepted. If Kasamatsu can so easily be friends with her, so can I. And during the few hours I spent with her at the park, I liked her.

"I'm so excited, aren't you?" She bubbles on and on about the game, a never-ending chatter that reminds me of Kise. But I let her words flow over me, occasionally commenting when necessary.

When we reach the stadium for the games, it's already packed, much more crowded than any other game I've intended. The Winter Cup really is something.

There are a few minutes till the match starts, but finally, the crowd begins to quiet down. And Susumu tenses next to me, leaning forward in her seat. I resist doing the same.

Kaijou emerges from one side, Fukuda Sougou, the other. One clad in red and black, the other white and blue. Polar opposites, both teams are strong, but with the basketball eye that's been hammered into me, first by my father and then Kasamatsu, I can tell Kaijou has the edge. But . . . something about Fukuda Sougou's ace throws me off, and I can't figure out what.

Kise stands strong, in the middle of his teammates, their ace, with Kasamatsu near him, their pillar. The two of them look so strong, centering their team with their power.

I want them to win.

What is happening?

I'm not even sure. There he is, Kise Ryouta, a Generation of Miracles, kneeling on the ground. He looks broken, a toy tossed on the ground, old, served its purpose.

I want to shout at him to get up, move, keep going. The game is not over yet. His teammates still need him. But he doesn't move.

Haizaki, the ace of Fukuda Sougou, is saying something to him, and I strain to hear it, but I know I won't be able to.

But then, I hear a voice, calling out, "Kise-kun, I believe in you!"

Heads turn. Susumu gasps, looking for the source of the noise. But I'm just thinking of the words.

Someone said it. Someone else said it before I did. Why didn't I say it first?

I can't be beaten like that. So before I can think about it further, I stand up, my legs pushing me forward, and I scream, as loud as I can, "KISE RYOUTA, YOU BETTER WIN! OR I'LL —"

I don't finish, because then he's standing up, his eyes searching the crowd. He spies something, and a smile crosses his face — then he looks to me. And I wonder if my heart is going to thud out of my chest.

He holds my gaze for a few seconds, then he turns back to Haizaki and starts saying a few words. The game recommences, but this time . . . I can tell he is prepared for everything. He holds the ball with confidence, and his movements are careful and controlled. When he jumps and shoots the three-pointer, I almost fall out of my seat.

It's a beautiful shot. And then the rest of the game is moving at a rapid pace, and he's outmatching Haizaki at every turn, using the Generation of Miracles' abilities to their fullest.

No, using his ability.

The last few minutes are intense. Haizaki is ruthless, even going as far to slam his foot onto Kise's, taking advantage of Kise's weakness. Both Susumu and I cry out of the unfairness, but the referee doesn't catch it, and the game continues — even with the momentary pain, Kise doesn't give up, lending his full strength to his team.

Until they win.

The number pops up on my phone screen later that night. "Eirin?" the voice says when I answer.

"Yeah," I reply.

"Is the game over?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Did you guys win?"

"Yep."

"Sounds like you had a good time." His voice is laced with good-natured sarcasm. He knows me too well.

I think of Kise, who must be at home now, crashed in his bed, exhausted from how much effort he put into the game. And I think of the person I'm talking to right now. Ikuto, the person who I don't think has ever put any real effort into anything.

"It was great," I say.

He sounds surprised. "You know, you've changed, Eirin. You're not as gloomy as before."

"Um, thanks?"

"You want to hang out again? You did give me your number, after all."

"My number never changed."

He laughs. "Don't be like that. I'll meet you at the ice cream shop near the park we were just at, okay? Do you know the place? It's right near —"

"No, not there."

"You don't like ice cream?"

"I'm . . . just not in the mood for it right now."

There's a moment of silence, but then he agrees, and we set up another place.

In truth, I don't think I can ever eat ice cream again without thinking about Kise.

A/N: This was such an awesome game in the anime (although pretty much every game with Kise is awesome, but I'm obviously biased). I wish I could eat ice cream with Kise . . .

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed!

~ J. Dominique